Paper fastener



, l ,650,002 V. ALVER PAPER FAs'rENnR Nov. 22, 1927.

Filed April 26. 1923 vwantoz Y Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

UNITED sTATEs OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FRED J'. KLINE, 0F LONGISLAND CITY, NEW YORK.

VICTOR AIAJVER,

PATENT OFFICE.4

PAPER FASTENER.

Application filed April 26, 1923. Serial No. 634,671.l

This invention relates to paper fasteners and more particularly totongued paper fasteners for use in filing documents, letters and thelike and which fasteners embody a member having two spaced apart tonguesadapted to be pushed through the papers to be filed and preferablythrough a pair of perforations in a retaining member or washer and theends of the tongues then m bent down flat on the same.

The main object of the invention is to provide improved means forholding down the ends of said tongues so as to prevent their catching onpapers and other objects when the files are in use. Another object is toprovide means for this purpose which are more easily manipulated thancertain devices for a similar purpose nowin use. Another object is toprovide such means thatwill operate properly and easily if said tonguesshould become bent or uneven.

The means I prefer to employ to accomplish the above-named objectstogether with other advantageous features of my improved paper fastenernot hereinbefore mentioned, are illustratedin the drawing accompanyingand forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is aperspective view of a paper fastener embodying my invention and appliedto a file of papers.

Fig. 2 is a vertical logitudinal section of the same taken on the line2-2 of Fig. l. n

Fig. 8 isa transverse section of the same taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a plan of the form of retaining member used in the aboveadaptation of my invention. j

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a tongue holding' member forming part ofmy invention.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig.7 is a plan of the same.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the method of applying orremoving my imr proved paper fastener.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrative of another part of the methodof applying my paper fastener.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing another arrangement of my improvedpaper fastener. A

Fig. l1 is a perspective view illustrating a modified form of myinvention. j

Fig. 12 is a perspective viewv illustrating another modification, and

Fig. 13 is. a transverse section on another modification.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts in all the figures ofthe drawing.

In the various ,figures of the drawing the numeral 2 designates a memberprovided with a base portion such as 3 and ytwo tongues such as at rightangles to 3 and adapted to be pushed through two slits 5 in the file ofpapers indicated by I), and the ends of said tongues will then projectup above the topmost paper and above a retaining member or washer 6.rITwo perforations such as 7, through which said tongues 4 can bepassed, are ordinarily provided in the retaining member 6, and, afterthe said projecting portions of the tongues are passed through them, thesaid portions which are indicated by 8 can then be bent down flat on theupper part of said retaining member 6.

yThe retaining member or washer 6 is preferably provided with alongitudinal groove such as 9 extending between the perforations 7 andlying midway between the side edges 10. Preferably the member 6 has flatside edge portions 11 at each side of the groove 9. The groove 9 is ofsuch depth that the end portions 8 of the tongues will lie in the groovewithout projecting much above the top surface 12 of the retaining member6, even when one of said tongue ends lies over the other as in Figs. 1,2 and 3.

For finally holding down and securing the end portions 8 of the tongues,I have provided one or more slidable members 14, each of which iscomparatively short longitudinally, and preferably spans the retainingmember and the groove 9 therein. Suitable means are provided on theslidable members 14 to secure them to the retaining members 6, andpreferabl said means consist of flanges such as 15, bentfdown around theside ed es of the retaining member 6. The said si e edges 1() preferablyare slightly above the surface of the topmost paper so as tongue ends 16will lap over one another as in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9, while in othersthere will be a gap between the tongue ends as in Fig. 10,' in the firstinstance, one slidable memberl 14 would suffice for holding down thetongue ends, but in the last example,

to allow the members'14'to pass along i smoothly from end to end of thegroove 9.

In 4some arrangements of the fasteners, thel 4, preferably spaced apartl as illustrated in the figt-wo are necessary,

I provlde two members 14 ure. Ordinarily -for each retaining member, andsaid memthey would be moved singly over the sepa- .18 are rate tongueends as required. Projections `provided on said tongue-holding members14 itor the purpose of conveniently moving them to and fro, andprojections 20 are rovided near the ends of the retaining mem er, beyondthe perforations 7, which projeetionsact as stops tov prevent thetongue-end-holding members 14 from being separated from the retainingmember 6.

Fig. 1l illustrates another form of my invention in which the slidablemember 14 is formed by wrapping a strip of sheet metal or wire 20 as itis frequently termed, around the retaining member 6. IWo portions 21 areformed bridging the groove 9 above and a third portion 22 connects themtogether under the member 6. Portions 15 project under the side edges 10of the member 6. One or more slidable members 14 can be used as desired.

Fig. 12 illustrates two slidable members 14 formed of round wire andprovided with portions 24 bent down under the side edges 10 of themember 6. The said portions 24 have'branches 25 extending parallel withthe longitudinalwalls at the sides of the groove 9 and guided thereby.vPortions 27 preferably rounded, project upward slightly above the groove9 andthe bent down tongues therein and serve to move the members 14 'toand fro. In Fig. 13, I have illustrated a slightly modified form of themember 6 in which the side edges 10 slope outwardly and downwardlytowards the papers so that loose papers cannot beopushed underneath. Theside portions 11 in this form slope upward from the edges 10, and themember 14 slopes to conform to the member G and the portions 11 thereof.There is enough elasticity in the papers and the member 6 to allow theflanges 15 of the member 14 to be @slid along the edges 10. The flanges15 are illustrated in dotted lines as pressing down the upper papers inthe file P.

, What I claim is i A paper 'fastener comprising a member having twospaced apart tongues to be pushed through papers, a retaining memberhaving two slots through which said tongues can then be pushed, a grooveextending from one of said slotsto the other and into which said tonguescan then be bent, two stops formed by portions pressed upwardly from thebody of the retaining member one between each of said slots and theadjacent end of the retaining member and longitudinal side edges one oneach side of said groove, and two slides movable over said groove andthe bent down tongues therein, said slides each having its ends crimpedrespectively under said longitudinal side edges of the retaining memberand permanently confined on said member by said stops and said crimped:port-ions, and said slides being together' movable over all parts ofsaid groove and each also movable by itself but its individual movementbeing, less than the full length of said groove.

Signed at New York, inthe county of New York, and State of New York,thislOth day of April, 1923.

VICTOR ALVER.`

